Wednesday, January 6, 2010

The Last of Our New Year's Day Trip to New York City

Continuing down Fifth Avenue after leaving the Museum of Modern Art on Friday afternoon, the girls and I came across this statute of Atlas which stands in front of Rockefeller Center directly across from St. Patrick's Cathedral. As an interesting note, when the sculpture was first revealed it was protested by Catholics who thought it was inappropriate that a statute containing a semi-nude man be placed directly across from the cathedral. Obviously the protests did no good as Atlas is still standing in the same spot some 72 years later!

Installed in 1938, the sculpture was crafted in the Art Deco style - as is the entirety of Rockefeller Center. Atlas himself stands 15 feet tall and when you add on the celestial spheres that he's holding on his shoulders the whole sculpture tops out at 45 feet high - or as high as a four-story building. In other words, it's a tall statute!

Another wonderful piece of Art Deco is located at the main entrance of 30 Rockefeller Plaza - the relief sculpture of Wisdom which was completed in 1933.

Carved from Indiana limestone, Wisdom is 22 feet high and 14 feet wide and like Atlas, he was the product of one of the United States most prominent architectural sculptors - Lee Oscar Lawrie.

From Rockefeller Center, we decided to head towards Times Square to find something to eat and on our way I caught a glimpse of one of my favorite places in New York City - Radio City Music Hall.

I've only been to Radio City twice - the first time when we went to NYC for my 8th grade class trip way back in 1972 and once for their Christmas Show back in the early 1990's - but I'm hoping to go again one of these days.

I've got to admit, New York knows how to do it up right when it comes to Christmas lights so I'm going to have to make it a point to go back down that way again next Christmas and take some more pictures! I bet I could even fit in a trip to Radio City Music Hall again, too!

When we got to Times Square we had a chance to see the famous ball that drops on New Year's Eve to signal the beginning of the new year. I can't even begin to tell you how many times I've watched it drop from the comfort of my living room and never once have I wished I was in the crowd of revelers who pack Times Square from one end to the other!

It doesn't matter how many times I go to Times Square, though, I still think it's totally cool in spite of - or maybe because of - the hustle and bustle that seems to be there 24/7. It just wouldn't be New York without it! I'm not sure if the girls feel the same way or not but I made them pose for a picture anyway. What you can't see but what was really cool was that there was still confetti swirling in the air above us from the New Year's Eve celebration the night before!

By the way, see the sign for the Marquis Theater up above Sami's head? I went to see Damn Yankees there with my cousin way too many years ago and it was one of the best Broadway shows I've seen - ever! I loved every minute of it and it didn't hurt that Victor Garber was playing the role of the Devil! I used to love to go to Broadway shows but alas, they have become way too expensive unless you sit in the nosebleed section and bring binoculars to see the stage. I really miss the annual trips that my cousin and I used to take, though. Maybe we need to resurrect that tradition.

After dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe in Times Square, we walked back past Bryant Park and the Crumbs Bake Shop that I posted about the other day on our way to Grand Central Terminal where Sami would catch the subway to her home in Brooklyn and Amanda and I would climb on board a Metro-North train back to Connecticut.

I had totally forgotten how close Grand Central is to another of New York's beautiful Art Deco-designed buildings - the Chrysler Building. New York just has so many beautiful old buildings that I could probably walk around for days and still not get tired of looking at them!

One last picture because I thought it was cool - this street sign is right outside Grand Central and I just loved all of the flags on it and the perspective of looking up - something you do a lot of in New York City!

All in all I'd have to say that it was a great way to spend New Year's Day and we were fortunate enough to have decent weather while we were there. It occurred to me as I was nodding off on the train on the way home that there was no snow anywhere in the city and even though forecasters had been predicting lousy weather, we actually saw the sun come out for a little while in the afternoon. No wonder people say "I love New York!"

Brrrr... I need a hot chocolate now! The lights are over the top! My only New York City experience involves traveling over the nasty bridges to get from point A to point B. Although I would love to go to the Met to see an opera one day!

Well, girlfriend, you have really got me wanting to go to NYC! Buffalo, NY is the farthest Steve and I have traveled when crossing the border at Niagara Falls...next time we have more than just a couple of days to get away, we should plan on heading to NYC!! I'll have to check how many hours' drive it is to there.

All of your pictures are fabulous and I especially love that last one of the street sign and all the flags, such an awesome shot.

We watched the ball drop in Time Square on tv as we do every year and it really must be fascinating to actually be there...even if it was the day after:-) xoxo